Suggested pellet rifle for a 12 year old?

sphen

sphen

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So my son has taken an interest the last couple of times I've gone out, he's shot my hw77, my cz452 and my dads cooey .22. He actually did pretty well with the iron sights and despite the fact that these were all too big for him. However, he has a hard time reaching the trigger once stretched out and would definitely be better off with something smaller. I'd like to start him on an air rifle until he proves and develops safe habits, any recommendations for backyard plinking? He's 12, relatively small framed. I googled it and get all kinds of variety of answers so I'd appreciate feedback for experience instead. Thanks.
 
Depends on budget. A friends 12 year old son really likes air rifles, and he spent is Christmas money on a Crosman Optimus or something. We would get together and he would be frustrated that he couldn't hit anything. I tried his rifle at 15 yards and groups were in the 2" range. I let him use my HW30 and his groups dropped down to sub 3/4" at that distance. I haven't seen that Crosman in a while, he always shoots my HW.

Get what you can afford, but consider a pellet gun what will last a long time as a worth while investment. I can one hole my HW30 at 10M in my basement, I use it for offhand practice in the winter. I know if I miss it was me.
 
German or CZ quality means he can hand it down to his children instead of Chinese junk...pay once /cry once....Harold
 
"I'd like to start him on an air rifle until he proves and develops safe habits,"


I'm not sure I follow this.
A pellet rifle needs the same respect and has the same lack of forgiveness, as any rifle.

C'mon Dad, buy him a .22

:)
 
Daisy 853 (or a 953 if you want to save a few $$)

Daisy-Avanti-853_DY853_rifle_lg.jpg
 
9x19p said:
"I'd like to start him on an air rifle until he proves and develops safe habits,"


I'm not sure I follow this.
A pellet rifle needs the same respect and has the same lack of forgiveness, as any rifle.

C'mon Dad, buy him a .22

:)
Click to expand...

Lol, here are the reasons for the air rifle over .22

1) Easier to pass by the wife who thinks he's still too young. She's a toronto girl and still has a hard time wrapping her mind around firearms. She's coming around but takes time.

2) He was good with the .22 but was under tight supervision. When I had him out at the archery range twice he got overly excited and started notching an arrow while a couple of guys were still out looking for theirs in the field. He can still get tunnel vision when he gets excited and I'd prefer he has a air rifle in his hands instead of a .22 until he gets better awareness of his surroundings. He'll still be under my supervision but I'll feel a bit more comfortable stepping back and giving him a bit more liberty with a pellet than a .22.

3) He won't be able to get to the range as much as I (no skipping school for him). With the pellet gun he can shoot in the garage with me.

So I see a couple recommendations for the slavia 630 and 631...I have access to both of those but both need a tuning as neither is showing much accuracy. I'll give them a going over, I'm a complete novice at working on air rifles but worth a shot I guess. My only concern is that they may be large for him still, I'll have to give it a fitting but he's a little guy and I'm not sure if he can comfortably shoulder either one. Maybe the 630.

Thanks guys.
 
The Baikal IZH-60 or 61. They are light, accurate and have good triggers. The 61 comes with 5 round magazines. Oh, the length of pull is also adjustable which allows for growing room.
Denis
 
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